The Black Hole

Beautiful cover for a beautiful film.

Simple, but nice. You really need to see those images in motion if you haven't. ;)

I decided to watch the movie again the other day and wrote a review about it at my Letterboxd account. Check it out! (and feel free to follow me there and I'll follow you back)

A.K.A. Wixie the Pixie!

Some great info on Detroit legend Marv Welch here, including info on his various careers, all as an entertainer. He was a comedian, an early local TV star on WXYZ as children's show host Wixie the Pixie, and a singer. His lounge career is definitely at odds with that of being a kiddies' hero. If you look here, there's an autograph he wrote on a copy of this album that says 'Mary & John, Live it up & get it up & keep it up.' :p

The cover should not include these double rings. I guess someone thought it would be funny to add them. I...kinda do too. :p

Shame this copy is in bad shape.

Some more thoughts on the album here...

Interesting how it appears the two sides are quite different. I haven't listened yet, but that's some nice praise for side two.

Big Bird and Oscar visit Canada

I was wondering if this 1981 album was a Canada-only release, and apparently it was.

RCMP? So clichéd... ;)

Makes sense that CBC was first, though I bet it was quickly translated/remade into many languages for worldwide distribution. The Canadian version is the one I grew up with, though it was still 95% the American version. They basically just inserted a few Canada-specific skits here and there, some in French. We didn't need it, but there's some law about Canadian content, blah blah blah...

The Bigwoods

Obviously, this is the sort of cover that just jumps right out at you, which is always a good thing.  The Bigwoods, from left to right, are Anne Bigwood (drums), her brother Bobby (accordion and vocals) and Robb Wyatt (guitar and vocals). They performed Caribbean standards and Caribbean-flavored tunes, along with originals, on cruise ships (including the Queen Elizabeth II) and had impressive hair! ;) Really, that link up there says more than I could, and includes some responses by Mr. Wyatt.

When I saw the cover, I was instantly reminded of this classic...

I may have this one, but I'm not sure. If I do, I should frame it and put it on the wall.

Interesting back cover, including a crude drawing of the QE II. Almost looks like someone put a sticker there. Anyway, beautiful beach. Love seeing all the trees. Any beach I've been to either has no trees around, or they're way back.

How to Listen to Music

Well, not quite, but how to listen to music...better? More efficiently? Yeah.

*Apologies in advance for the smaller pictures...but they're not that bad, I guess*

CBS Laboratories (where safety is number one priority?) presents what didn't need a nice colorful, eye-catching cover, but got one anyway. So yes, this is yet another stereo setup records, but something you'll see later sets it apart from others a bit.

Again, these are very standard tests, so here comes the more interesting part...

It came with a booklet for professional test records, as opposed to the album featured in this post, which is basically for the vinyl layman. Let's look inside...

STR 100: Stereophonic Frequency Test Record

STR 112: Square Wave, Tracking and Intermodulation Test Record

STR 120: Wide Range Pickup Response Test Record

STR 130: RIAA Frequency Response Test Record

STR 140: RIAA Pink Noise Acoustical Test Record

STR 151: Broadcast Test Record

See? When you're getting into super tech RIAA and Broadcast stuff, those are records that few home consumers would ever care about or need. 

STR 170: 318 Microsecond Frequency Response Test Record

STR 101: Seven Steps to Better Listening

SQT 1100: Quadraphonic Test Record

The 318 Microsecond record isn't exactly for home use either, but those last two are, especially the STR 101 record featured in this post, which apparently cost $6.98, whereas all the other ones are $15.00 each.

Bending Fabric Again

This is Bent's fourth album. I've posted his first before, the legendary Alley Cat. :) (and I still haven't had anyone get the reference in that post's title...) Many of his albums and covers involved animals in some way, which I like. I still like that ATCO logo too.

Lots of words about Alley Cat, because, as I mentioned before, it's legendary.

I forgot to include the tracklist, so here it is. I need to hear his version of the also legendary Sweet Georgia Brown. I can't find it on YouTube, but here's Alley Cat again, which is there several hundred thousand times. ;) It's one of those songs where you may have no idea about the artist or title, but as soon as you hear it, boom!

Kaptain Kool and the Kongs

As I was looking through my pics for something to upload, I came across this and decided to post it on a whim. Didn't mean much to me, and I figured it was just another disco group I hadn't heard of, but I dig the outfits and the name. (and Kaptain Kool reminds me of Dennis Farina a bit) But something on the back intrigued me...

Notice the Krofft in the lower left corner. I thought 'Krofft as in Sid and Marty Krofft?' I looked them up and yep! They were part of The Krofft Supershow, another Krofft production I either never saw or saw so little of, I have no memory of it, due to extremely limited TV options at the time. Or because it was off the air by the time I was a 1-year-old. ;) 

But I've obviously become well aware of the various shows over the years, especially since the internet age, as evidenced by what I immediately thought of upon seeing this Bentley...

I grew up being somewhat aware of Krofft shows, but I think it was mostly from seeing clips on other shows, and my mother mentioning certain things from time to time. (H.R. Pufnstuf [see above], etc...) I don't remember Krofft shows ever being on any channels I had growing up in New Brunswick, Canada in the 80s. If I'm wrong, please let me know!